HPV vaccination

Did you miss the HPV vaccination in the first year of secondary school? You can still catch up free of charge up to and including the age of 30.

The vaccine is most effective if you have not yet come into contact with the virus. That is why it is important to be vaccinated before you become sexually active. In Flanders, young people in the first year of secondary school receive the HPV vaccine Gardasil 9 free of charge through the CLB.

Yes. Boys can also get and pass on an HPV infection, because the virus spreads through intimate contact. Although boys cannot get cervical cancer, certain HPV types can also cause other cancers in boys and men, including cancers of the genitals, anus and throat.

These cancers are less common, but they should certainly be taken seriously. Cervical cancer is the most common cancer caused by HPV.

Are you under 15? Then two vaccinations, given six months apart, are enough. Are you older than 15? A schedule of three vaccinations is recommended.

You can choose to have an additional vaccination with Gardasil 9®, but this is not free of charge. It is important to know that vaccination with Cervarix® or Gardasil® already offers very good protection.

Cervical cancer screening remains necessary, regardless of which vaccine you received: Cervarix®, Gardasil® or Gardasil 9®.

After one vaccination, your body does not produce enough antibodies to give you good, long-lasting protection against HPV. The second dose strengthens your immune response and gives you sufficient protection.

Stopping after one vaccination is not dangerous, but it does offer less protection against the virus. It is therefore best to complete your vaccination schedule.

Gardasil 9® protects not only against the HPV types that cause cervical cancer, but also against types 6 and 11, which are responsible for genital warts.

No, this is not necessary. Most HPV infections go away on their own. In rare cases, a long-term infection can lead to changes in the cells of the cervix, which may later develop into cervical cancer.

That is why it is important for women aged 25 and over to have a smear test every three years, so that any abnormalities can be detected early.

No. The vaccine only protects against the HPV types that can cause cervical cancer and against two types that can cause genital warts.

It does not protect against other STIs, such as chlamydia, hepatitis B or HIV, the virus that causes AIDS. Practising safe sex therefore remains important.

Cervical cancer is a malignant tumour that develops in the cervix. Only women can develop this disease. The cervix is the lower part of the womb that opens into the vagina.

There can usually be 10 to 15 years between infection with HPV and the development of cervical cancer.

Yes, it is still very important. From the age of 25 to 64, you are invited every 3 years to have a smear test. This allows us to detect abnormal cells in the cervix before you notice anything yourself. These cells can develop into a precancerous stage.

The HPV vaccine does not offer 100% protection against cervical cancer. If you are vaccinated, your risk of cervical cancer is much lower, but it remains important to have regular smear tests.

From 1 January 2025, women aged 30 and over will first have an HPV test performed on the smear sample. If HPV is present, the smear sample will then be examined further for abnormal cells. For women aged 30 and over, screening will only take place every 5 years if the HPV test is negative.

For women aged 25 to 29, the smear sample will still first be examined for abnormal cells before any HPV testing is carried out. This screening remains every 3 years.